Health + Wellness
As a student at Olin College, you’ll learn new things in the classroom and about yourself. You’ll make new friends and maybe find some new interests. Along the way, you’ll probably have a time or two where you’re not feeling well.
You’ll also want to learn how to make healthy choices about how you take care of your body, and how you spend your free time. Olin offers services to support you in your time here as a student.
The Director of Wellness provides education and information to the Olin community about a variety of health and wellness topics. Students can also visit the Wellness office to learn more about the clinical resources available to them.
Check out this Spotlight story with Frances Mantak, Director of Wellness at Olin!
Health Services at Babson College
Olin students can receive health care at Babson College Health Services. Health Services is located on the Babson campus in Hollister Hall, suite 130.
An appointment is needed to be seen at Health Services. To schedule an appointment, please call 781-239-6363. Unsure if you should schedule an appointment? Call and ask to speak with the triage nurse.
More information about Health Services can be found here.
Behavioral Health Services
Olin offers a number of options to support behavioral health.
FrankCares Wellness Hub
Through FrankCares, students can access counseling services, a Wellness Hub, and wellness apps. Through the Wellness Hub, students can access the Headspace app, which helps build coping and resiliency skills and offers more than 1,000 hours of mindfulness and mental well-being content. Students can also access SilverCloud, which can help students learn how to manage stress, learn better coping skills, help with managing emotions, and more! There is also an option to work with a coach. The FrankCares call line allows students to access counselors after hours for more urgent needs as well as a Navigator service to help students seek out additional resources.
Counseling Services
Frank Cares
FrankCares is a new service, started in Fall 2022, to provide additional counseling resources to students. In particular, it is available to enrolled students 24/7/365 so students can call whenever they would like. Counseling sessions are free of charge.
Colony Care
Olin has been collaborating with Colony Care Behavioral Health in Wellesley for almost twenty years to provide our mental health support services. Colony Care is a multi-disciplinary group of psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. A variety of providers offer a wide array of treatment approaches including short and long term psychotherapy, stress management counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication management, and hypnosis. A core group of providers works with Olin students.
There is no charge to the student for any of these services, which are available to enrolled students when classes are in session. There is no limit to the number of appointments a student can make. In addition, if the student needs transportation to Colony Care then Olin will cover that charge as well. Most appointments occur at Colony Care's Wellesley office but a limited number of appointments are offered on campus each week. Transportation for off-campus appointments can be arranged by using the Olin College account in the Uber app. Uber rides will be sponsored by the College for transport between campus and Colony Care only.
Please note that students have the option of utilizing private insurance to access mental health services independently, but should check with their provider for information about coverage terms and conditions. Olin students are not eligible to use Counseling and Psychological Services at Babson.
Independent Counselors
In addition to Colony Care, the College works with other individual providers to offer appointments to students on campus. Their contact information can be found in the “Mental Health Provider Information” section. There is no charge to the student for any of these services, which are available to enrolled students when classes are in session. There is no limit to the number of appointments a student can make with these providers.
Student Health Insurance Plan
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all full-time and three-quarter-time students to be enrolled in a qualifying student health insurance plan. This may be in the form of the student’s own qualifying health insurance plan, or the qualifying health insurance plan offered through Olin College. Please go here for further information about the plan and the waiver process.
Important Links for Olin students:
Student Affairs Team | Babson Health Center | Mental Health Providers | Babson Public Safety Department
Off-campus links:
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital | Boston Area Rape Crisis Center | Metro West Medical Center | Newton Wellesley Hospital
Self-Care Tips
Read on for self-care tips about: healthy sleep, caring for yourself while you wait for an appointment and stocking your medicine cabinet.
Healthy Sleep Tips
This helps to regulate your body's clock and could help you fall asleep and stay asleep for the night.
A relaxing, routine activity right before bedtime conducted away from bright lights helps separate your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress or anxiety which can make it more difficult to fall asleep, get sound and deep sleep or remain asleep.
Power napping may help you get through the day, but if you find that you can't fall asleep at bedtime, eliminating even short catnaps may help.
Vigorous exercise is best, but even light exercise is better than no activity. Exercise at any time of day, but not at the expense of your sleep.
Design your sleep environment to establish the conditions you need for sleep. Your bedroom should be cool – between 60 and 67 degrees. Your bedroom should also be free from any noise that can disturb your sleep. Finally, your bedroom should be free from any light. Check your room for noises or other distractions. This includes a bed partner's sleep disruptions such as snoring. Consider using blackout curtains, eye shades, ear plugs, "white noise" machines, humidifiers, fans and other devices.
Make sure your mattress is comfortable and supportive. The one you have been using for years may have exceeded its life expectancy – about 9 or 10 years for most good quality mattresses. Have comfortable pillows and make the room attractive and inviting for sleep but also free of allergens that might affect you and objects that might cause you to slip or fall if you have to get up during the night.
Avoid bright light in the evening and expose yourself to sunlight in the morning. This will keep your circadian rhythms in check.
Alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine can disrupt sleep. Eating big or spicy meals can cause discomfort from indigestion that can make it hard to sleep. It is good to finish eating at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Your body needs time to shift into sleep mode, so spend the last hour before bed doing a calming activity such as reading. For some people, using an electronic device such as a laptop can make it hard to fall asleep, because the particular type of light emanating from the screens of these devices is activating to the brain. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid electronics before bed or in the middle of the night.
It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment. Use your bed only for sleep and sex to strengthen the association between bed and sleep. If you associate a particular activity or item with anxiety about sleeping, omit it from your bedtime routine. If you’re still having trouble sleeping, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor or to find a sleep professional. You may also benefit from recording your sleep in a Sleep Diary to help you better evaluate common patterns or issues you may see with your sleep or sleeping habits.
Self-Care While You Wait for an Appointment
While you are in the process of scheduling ongoing individual counseling, you may wonder what you can do in the meantime. Here are some things you can do to alleviate some of the distress you may currently be experiencing (this list is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any conditions – it cannot substitute for a consultation with a medical or mental health professional):
Get dressed, go to class, keep to the structure you normally have during your day.
Skipping meals robs you of the energy you need to cope.
Isolating yourself can make things worse.
Listen to your favorite music, practice taking deep breaths throughout the day, take hot baths, meditate, take a long walk.
Most people need from 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
This can be running, swimming, playing sports, working out. Even walks around the campus and neighborhood can help you feel better emotionally and help reduce stress.
This includes caffeine.
Spend time with those who make you laugh. Watch a comedy, YouTube or read a funny book.
– watch TV, text a friend, play a game, go outside.
Make a list of these things and try to do them.
Note any patterns or questions you’d like to discuss in counseling.
Stocking Your Medicine Cabinet
It's a good idea to be prepared for the possibility of an illness or injury. You may want to keep the following items in your residence hall room for use in self-care:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil), and/or Aspirin for fever/pain/swelling
- Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM) and Guaifenisen (Mucinex) for coughs
- Decongestant (Sudafed) and saline nasal spray for nasal congestion
- Cough drops/lozenges with benzocaine and/or menthol for sore throat
- An antihistamine (Benadryl or Claritin) for sneezing/watery eyes/other allergies
- Pepto-Bismol and Rolaids (or equivalent) for indigestion and upset stomach
- Loperamide (Immodium) for diarrhea and Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) for constipation
- Thermometer
- Cold pack
- Tweezers and scissors
- Adhesive/bandage tape and sterile gauze pads, Adhesive bandages
- An elastic (ACE) bandage
- Antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
- Antibiotic ointment (such as Bacitracin or Neosporin)
- Hydrocortisone ointment (such as Cortaid)
Resources + On-Campus Supplies
Find additional wellness resources and on-campus supplies here.